Letter to the editor- after people were discussing how anyone can rehab wildlife

Dear Vashon





I thought I'd clear something up with a little letter to the editor.



You need a permit to do Wildlife rehab. This is because of the nature of infectious disease and protocol involving the safety of wildlife and the public. We are taught in Rehab to recognise various types of zoonoses, this is very important for health of wild populations and public safety. Wildlife rehabbers deal with rabies, lepto, SARS and Avian Flu protocol, oil spills and mass strandings.

I have called Public health on rabies and cases where necropsy was required to determine specific diseases.



We at Wolftown know how to safely return animals to the wild without imprinting. Imprinting is when an animal recognises people as 'friend' this is not safe for them, or for us. In large mammals like deer it can be dangerous.



Also when euthanasia is required we have resources above the public norm. This provides a level of safety for the community and less suffering for the animal. We work closely with King County Sheriffs on some of these cases close to houses and roads.

Vashon is a more suburban area now and we have to face the facts that result from that.



Wildlife rehabbers network with other facilities. For help and support and as a way to identify what is going on in terms of infectous diseases. For example If I get raccoons in with Lepto- I know I'll soon see it in other species, I then can also warn other off island facilities.



Wolftown often gets help from Zoos and researchers and biologists and vets where all of us compound data for the benefit of Wildlife and ecosystems.

I personally am on the boards of two Wildlife Organizations, one for big predators the other for Wildlife in WA State.

I started working with wildlife over 25 years ago. I had some reservations on working with the state and federal agencies. While the red tape can be a pain, for the most part the sharing of ideas and information between professionals HELPS US ALL! And greatly helps Wildlife. The biologists I work with are Saints.



Vashon is a closed eco-system I have been working on data here reguarding diseases and parasite loads for many many years with Dr Thorne.

If everyone does not help Wolftown gather data- If everyone does not work as a team- we are losing a vaulable tool for expanding knowlege on how Humanity, ecosystems, wildlife and domestic species function as a whole.

Do you have sheep and goats? Suffered any loses lately? Wormers not working? See thin sick deer around? Get the picture? We are working on it.



If you want to help- Thats great please do! But let us know, it helps us with our gathering of data. If you cannot reach us and wish to transport wildlife off Island- Great! But take the animal to a permitted Wildlife rehabber. Do not attempt to rehab a wild animal yourself. And it is ILLEGAL and for a good reason.



Many of the cases I have gotten over the years are animals that are sick from incorrect care. One person didn't understand the use of antibiotics after songbirds were attacked by a cat and died. One person fed a fawn soy milk. One person was stealing baby seals from the beaches. I could go on and on.



If you want to help on island- GREAT! I will train you- sub permit you! I already have folks that help with marine mammals and song birds, squirrels and baby raccoons. I need more help! I don't want to do it all, nor can I.



Lets work together!



Thanks Vashon



T and Pete Yamamoto



Volunteers and Staff, members and Board of Wolftown



206-463-9113

wolftown@centurytel.net

www.wolftown.org